by Jack Gilbert, B.A (Hons), M.A, PGCE

Building a positive relationship between home and school can significantly support your child as they transition back to school. Remember, as parents, you know your child best, so you are the best person to advocate for your child. At the same time, starting a new school year can be a big transition for children, families, and school teams. Here are 5 tips to help support this transition:

• Seek to find out the communication preferences

When you meet the teacher for the first time, ask how best to communicate with them. For example, it may be through email, a specific platform such as Edsby, or a home- school communication book. It may also be worth communicating how much communication you want from the classroom teacher, as this will be different for every family.

• Encourage open communication

Be open with your teacher about what is working well and what you find challenging at home and at school. For example, if a child is finding the transition to and from school difficult, you can work together to understand what your child may be having difficulty with, in that moment. These relationships may take some time to develop, which is okay.

• Ask questions – and seek curiosity

Ask questions as they arise and seek clarification if you are unsure about something. While this can be hard at first, it can also strengthen trust between a teacher and family, and I encourage you to be proactive where possible. For example, it may be worth asking for a copy of the class schedule so you can help prepare your child for what they will be working on that day. If your child uses visuals at school and you don’t have access to them at home, ask if you can get a copy for home.

• Consider visiting the school prior to starting

For children who may find transitions difficult, or who may have sensory needs and preferences, it may be worth visiting the school before your child’s start date, if possible. Firstly, this allows the class team to get to know your child before they start. It may also help the class team adapt the classroom environment accordingly to best support your child, if needed. Most importantly, it gives you an opportunity to ask questions and start building a relationship with your child’s teacher before your child’s start date.

• Remember, you are the expert on your child

Remember that you, as parents and carers, are experts on your child. You will most likely know your child’s strengths, needs, preferences, and interests, and I would encourage you to communicate them with your child’s school team. For example, if your child needs specific supports such as headphones, focus tools, opportunities for movement, etc, having those available from the start can support regulation.

Finally, as your child transitions back to school, we want them to be their true, authentic selves and, most importantly, feel a sense of belonging at school. By establishing the parent- teacher relationship early on, you will hopefully be able to continue to develop trust throughout the academic year.